Ottawa Charge players huddle around each other as they celebrate a goal.
Ottawa Charge players celebrate after Emily Clark scored in overtime against the Minnesota Frost on May 20, 2025 at TD Place Arena in Ottawa. [Photo by PWHL]

Less than three minutes into overtime, Ottawa Charge forward Emily Clark flew past the hash marks along the boards and snapped the puck short side past Minnesota Frost goaltender Nicole Hensley, clinching a Game 1 overtime thriller in front of a jumping Charge crowd.

Post-game “Clarkie” chants rounded out a raucous evening for an Ottawa crowd that was more excited than ever to welcome the Charge home for their first trip to the Walter Cup Final on May 20 at TD Place Arena. For Clark, it’s proof of a real home ice advantage, especially now that the Charge are 3-0 in Ottawa during the playoffs.

“That’s incredibly special,” Clark said. “We can’t say enough good things about being able to play in front of this community and any time we get a chance to play at home is just such a boost.”

A scoreless first period played into the hands of the low-scoring Charge. In the regular season, the Charge were tied with the New York Sirens for the league worst goal differential, conceding nine more pucks than they scored. 

Head coach Carla MacLeod’s defensive style was tested early, holding off a Minnesota power play after blueliner Stephanie Markowski was booked for slashing eight minutes into the game. Minnesota’s power play scored 45 per cent of the time in their opening round against the Toronto Sceptres, but was held scoreless against Ottawa in Game 1.

Hensley held off an onslaught from Ottawa’s own power play unit six minutes later, stopping four shots on the penalty kill.

Halfway through the second period, Minnesota’s league-leading power play came close to opening the score with Ottawa’s Tereza Vanišová in the box.

But only 11 seconds after Vanišová stepped out of the box, she dropped a pass to a streaking Rebecca Leslie, who roofed the game’s opening goal over the shoulder of Hensley. Leslie opened the scoring in the Walter Cup Final, notching the first of the finals in front of her hometown crowd.

“We find it fun when anyone scores,” MacLeod chuckled. “But the crowd finds it fun when the hometown girl scores too.” 

Charge goaltender Gwenyth Philips stood tall in the second period, stopping two breakaways by Frost forwards Brooke McQuigge and Denisa Křížová.

But a heartstopping mistake tarnished Philips’ clean sheet just five minutes into the third period, when she turned the puck over behind the net to Katy Knoll, who connected with Klára Hymlárová for the equalizer.

“That’s the reality of hockey,” MacLeod said. “There’s little mistakes that can occur, but she doesn’t let it phase her.”

As Philips regained her footing, both teams got physical in the remainder of the period searching for a winner in regulation — but Game 1 was destined for overtime.

After Clark’s overtime winner, a crowd which had only ever witnessed one other Charge overtime winner at home went berserk. For Leslie, the hometown hero, to earn her first Walter Cup Final win at home was unforgettable.

“Just to see how this fanbase has gotten behind our team, it’s something truly special and we don’t take it for granted,” Leslie said.

The Charge will look to once again leverage a home ice advantage to double their lead in the best-of-five series on May 22, hosting the Frost at TD Place Arena for Game 2.

Featured photo by PWHL.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR